Newsprint microcrystalline fibers activated by different coupling agents and electron beam irradiation as filler for styrene-butadiene rubber-based composites

Abstract

Natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites offer many benefits over predictable composite materials, such as accessibility, low-cost, lightweight, and high definite mechanical properties. However, the applications of these materials are quiet restricted due to the contests in realizing a good interface between the fibers and matrix. This is highly influenced by the fiber surface characteristics and the polymer matrix properties. Therefore, this work discusses the incorporation of newsprint microcrystalline fibers (NPMCFs) in styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) based composite. The fibers were first treated with (consistent concentration (10 w/100 w) coupling agents to fiber, respectively. The coupling agents namely: vinyl acetate versatic ester (VAcVe), maleic anhydride (MA), and phenol-formaldehyde resin (PFR), followed by surficial modification by irradiation with 30 kGy electron beam. Pristine and produced fibers were compounded to SBR. Mixing the ingredients was carried out on a rubber roll mill and then molded on a hot press to induce sulfur vulcanization. Characterization of the yielded fibers was investigated using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR). The mechanical properties of composites, such as tensile strength (TS), tensile modulus, tensile set, and crosslinking density demonstrated enhanced values as a result of enforcing the SBR matrix. The morphological examination via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques explicitly indicated the adhesion of the prepared fibers to SBR moiety. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) confirmed a remarkable improvement in the thermal stability of the developed MA and PFR/SBR composites.

Keywords:

• Styrene-butadiene rubber
• coupling agents
• electron beam irradiation
• mechanical properties
• thermogravimetric analysis

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests and non-financial competing interests.

Author contributions

Khaled F. El-Nemr was responsible for the conception and design, testing, data acquisition, writing – review, and editing. Yasser H. Gad was responsible for analysis and data interpretation, writing – review, and editing manuscripts. Magdy A. Ali was responsible for analysis and data interpretation, writing – review, and editing manuscripts. All authors read, revise, and approve the final manuscript.

Data availability statement

The authors declare that all data supporting the findings and materials of this study are available within the article.